Azad Rosay joins CelticsWeblog all the way in which from France. Regardless of protecting the crew six hours away in a unique language, Azad is an avid fan and an analytics and Xs and Os professional. Try his first piece on the Jays’ driving within the Finals.
What obtained you into basketball and the Celtics?
My relationship with basketball and the Celtics has been natural since I used to be 13 years outdated and has continued to develop since then. I performed each Wednesday again in center college within the French Alps. It was a straightforward solution to get away from my small village and revel in a enjoyable sport with my closest pals. I performed repeatedly till the tip of highschool, after which my focus shifted, and I didn’t play once more till I moved to Amsterdam at 23 years outdated. Now that I’m again dwelling within the Alps, I nonetheless attempt to play repeatedly. One factor I’ve understood about basketball: it has created and strengthened friendships all through my life, and I’m grateful for that.
As for who obtained me into the Celtics, I believe it was my father, in a method. He loves video video games and often comes house every so often with random video games he finds for reasonable. Someday, he got here again with NBA Dwell 2008. I nonetheless don’t know why he selected that sport, nevertheless it modified all the things. In 2008, the perfect crew was… the Celtics. So, to discover ways to play the sport, I picked the Celtics… and a decade later, right here I’m, introducing myself as a author for CelticsBlog. I’m grateful for that, too.
So to reply the query, “What obtained me into basketball and the Celtics?” I’d say it was love, luck, household, and pals.
What are your strengths and/or favourite matters as a author?
That’s a troublesome query. I’d say that considered one of my strengths is my potential to grasp and use statistics and knowledge to higher grasp what the human eye can’t see. Then again, I watch a number of basketball, so my eyes may seize what may not be mirrored in monitoring knowledge. As soon as I discover this stability between what I see and the numbers, I need to share it with individuals who could be .
I genuinely get excited once I share an evaluation as a result of I need it to be challenged by the actual world. As soon as an article I write is on the market, being challenged and commented on, I get to discover ways to enhance for the subsequent one. Since I began creating content material on the NBA in France, I’ve been lucky sufficient to speak with NBA gamers, coaches, and writers. This has additionally helped me change into a greater author and analyst.
As for my favourite matters, I like specializing in statistical and tactical evaluation. I take pleasure in attempting to grasp what a crew is trying to realize and the way they’re attempting to create a bonus. I’m additionally studying about participant scouting — attempting to seize the core values, skills, and limitations of a participant by watching movies and analyzing knowledge.
To sum up, I take pleasure in writing about what’s occurring on the court docket and do my finest to make it fascinating for the individuals who learn my work.
What’s your daring prediction for the approaching season?
“Luke Kornet will shoot 3-pointers once more” appears like each an correct and daring prediction for 2024. The reasoning behind this prediction is straightforward: it’s wanted, and it’s potential.
Why is it wanted? As a result of the Celtics might be taking part in with out Kristaps Porziņģis at the beginning of the season. We don’t know precisely when he might be again, so Joe Mazzulla and his workers might want to regulate accordingly. When Porziņģis is on the court docket, the Celtics have higher shot high quality because of the spacing he offers. The Celtics’ potential to get to the rim was considerably higher with the Latvian on the ground (Rim Frequency elevated by 4.7% when KP was on the court docket).
Final yr, Kornet was requested to convey a number of vitality to the offensive glass (+7.5% OREB% when he was on the ground). Throughout a post-game interview with Celtics Recordsdata, he talked about that specializing in offensive rebounds was one of many causes he stopped taking pictures 3-pointers. Maybe there’s a stability to be discovered right here, the place Luke Kornet can house the ground whereas nonetheless being aggressive on the offensive glass.
As for his taking pictures capabilities, I’m assured he might nonetheless hit threes with league-average effectivity. An ideal indicator of taking pictures potential is FT% — and Luke hits 81% of his free throws. On prime of that, his first two seasons confirmed that in the proper setting, he might shoot and make threes.
So, stroll with me down this highway, and let’s hope we witness Luke Kornet hit a few 3-pointers per sport, adopted by considered one of his iconic celebrations.
